Islanders, Anders Lee Agree On 4-Year Contract

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Anders Lee is on the fast track to a long and prosperous career with the New York Islanders.

The talented and rugged winger is assured of spending at least the foreseeable future with the franchise after agreeing to terms Tuesday on a new four-year contract, the team announced.

Lee will receive $3.75 million per season, Newsday reported.

"The organization has been nothing but first class to me from the moment I was drafted. I look forward to competing for the Stanley Cup in each year while playing in front of the best fans in the NHL," Lee said.

The 24-year-old former star at Notre Dame scored 25 goals last season, fourth among NHL rookies, and his 41 points were tied for sixth on the Islanders.

"Anders has proven to be an effective goal scorer over his two seasons with the club," Islanders general manager Garth Snow said. "We're thrilled to have another home-grown talent signed long-term."

A sixth round pick in the 2009 NHL draft, Lee has 57 points, including 35 goals, in 100 career games.

Lee, who is 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, has prototypical power forward size, but he needs to prove he is more reliable than the player who was benched during Games 6 and 7 of the Isles' opening-round playoff series loss to Washington if he is to challenge for a spot on the top line next to superstar center John Tavares.

The move came on the eve of the league's free agency signing period, in which the Islanders are expected to target a backup goaltender and perhaps a depth defenseman.

Various reports have suggested the Isles could also be in the market for a veteran winger, though it's more likely they would look to acquire one via trade due to the number of teams facing serious salary cap issues.

The 2015-16 season will be the Islanders' first at Brooklyn's Barclays Center following more than four decades at Nassau Coliseum.